Frederick yolk



No. 6ll, 297. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

F. VOLK, 1n. WIRE STBETCHER.

(Application filed Apr. 2, 1898.)

(No Model.)

AIIIIIIIIIIIIIITI I UNITED STATES PATENT GEETQE.

FREDERICK VOLK, JR, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611 ,297, datedSeptember 27, 1898.

Application filed April 2, 1898. Serial No. 676,223. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK VoLK, J12, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the State of New York, have invented a newand useful fire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clamps or grippersfor stretching wires such asare used for fences or telephone or telegraph lines.

The object of my invention is to produce an extremely cheap, powerful,and convenient clamp of this class which affords an extensivebearing-surface for the wire and exerts a pressure thereon correspondingwith the amount of power applied in stretching.

With this object in view my invention consists in a wire-clampcomprising a main plate provided with a side extension forming what maybe termed the stationary jaw of the clamp and with a longitudinal slotin its outer end, a lever pivoted to the main plate and provided with amovable jaw adapted to con tact with the fixed jaw, a pitmanconnectingrod pivotally secured to'the outer raised end tains to makeand use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction andoperation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective Viewillustrating a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, theparts being in the position they assume when in operation. Fig. 2 is aview in side elevation, illustrating the clampin full lines in its openposition and in dotted lines in its closed position. Fig. 3 is a topplan view of the clamp in its closed position,

part of the clevis being broken away. Fig. 4. is a top plan view of theWindlass-pulley to be used in connection with my clamp for stretchingwire.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in thedifferent figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A is the main plate, which isprovided on one side with an extension or block 13, which forms thestationary jaw, and is provided with teeth on its upper edge. The mainplate is also provided with a longitudinal slot 0 in its outer edge.

D indicates alever pivoted to the side of the main plate A at one end bymeans of a pin E, said plate D having a downward extension at F to formthe movable jaw, said extension being provided with teeth to correspondwith the teeth of the fixed jaw B. The outer end G of the lever D isupwardly inclined, and apitman or connecting rod H is pivotallyconnected to its outer end by means of a pin I. A pin J passes throughthe lower end of the pitman or connecting rod H and through the slot 0and has mounted upon each end the ends of a clevis K.

In stretching wire the jaws B and F are opened by pushing the pin Jtoward the in ner end of the slot 0, a suitable wire or rope from astretching means or a towing-line being connected in the clevis K. Thewire is inserted between the jaws when in their open position and theline attached to the clevis K is pulled. This operation first draws thepin J toward the outer end of the slot 0, carrying the connecting-rod Hwith it and drawing down the lever D and movable jaw F until the wire isfirmly clamped between the two jaws. A further pulling upon the linewill stretch the wire to any desired degree of tension.

My device is especially useful to fencebuilders and linemen of telephoneand telegraph companies and in fact in any business where wire isrequired to be stretched.

The construction is extremelysimple and the operation sure and reliable,inasmuch as the greater the pull the tighter the jaws clamp the wire.

' In the operation of my clamp the line (not shown, but hereinbeforereferred to as contoo nected to the clevis K) may be wound upon a pulleyL, (see Fig. 4,) pivotally mounted in a Ushaped metallic frame M andprovided on one end, which projects beyond the frame, with aratchet-Wheel N and a pawl O, which is pivoted to one side of theU-shaped frame and has its point in engagement with the teeth of theratchet-wheel N to permit of its free turning in one direction, butpreventing its turning in the opposite direction. Secured to theU-shaped frame M is a hook P, and upon the opposite projecting end Q ofthe pivot of the pulley L is a suitable crank or handle to be used toturn the pulley. In use this device, in connection with the hook P, isengaged with any suitable rigid structure, and the rope before referredto is connected with the clevis K, secured upon the pulley L. By turningthe pulley in the proper direction with reference to the ratchet-wheelthe rope will be wound thereupon and stretched to an extreme degree oftension, exerting its power at its outer end upon the clevis K andthrough the medium of the connecting-bar II upon the movable jaw of theclamp.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described what I now consider to beefficient means for carrying out my invention, I do not wish to beunderstood as restricting myself to the exact details of constructionshown and described, but hold that such slight changes or variations asmight suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would properly fallwithin the limit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. Awire-clamp consisting of a stationary plate provided with a sideextension forming the fixed jaw and with a longitudinal slot in itsouter end; a lever pivoted to the outer end of the main plate provided,between its ends, with a movable jaw adapted to engage the fixed jaw, aconnecting-rod or pitman pivotally secured to the outer upper end of thepivoted lever, a pin passing through the outer lower end of theconnecting-rod and the slot in the main plate, and a loop or clevisconnected with said pin, substantially as described.

2. A Windlass pulley herein described, mounted at one end of a U-shapedmetallic frame, and to the other end a suitable hook attached forsecuring the frame to a fixed object; on one end of the axis of thepulley, a ratchet-wheel mounted with a pawl pivoted to the side of theU-shaped frame and engaging the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and theother end of the axis of the pulley formed to receive a crank or handlefor turning the pulley, substantially as described.

FREDERICK VOLK, JR.

W'itnesses:

JAooB C. EBLING, CHARLES W. BRANDT.

